Pastor stabbed by server at downtown Austin restaurant
Photo of Edward Koubek (Austin Police Department)
AUSTIN, Texas - Court documents show that a server at a downtown Austin restaurant has been arrested and charged after stabbing a pastor dining there.
The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Edward Koubek, has been charged with second-degree felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The victim has been identified as Jairo Sandoval-Pliego, a pastor at San Jose Catholic Church in Austin.
The backstory:
The incident happened at around 10:30 p.m. on June 27 at Bob's Steak and Chop House located at 301 Lavaca Street.
The Austin Police Department responded after multiple 911 calls about a stabbing.
When officers arrived, staff directed them to Sandoval-Pliego, who was bleeding from his neck. An officer applied pressure to the wound and Sandoval-Pliego was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Officers began their investigation and began speaking to witnesses.
A couple dining with Sandoval-Pliego said as they entered the restaurant, Koubek greeted them saying he recognized Sandoval-Pliego from church.
As they were finishing up dinner, the couple said Koubek again approached Sandoval-Pliego and they thought Koubek was giving a goodbye hug but then realized Koubek was stabbing Sandoval-Pliego repeatedly.
After the stabbing, Koubek was located in a closed room with blood on his hands and the shirt he was wearing.
Koubek was detained without incident.
Dig deeper:
APD says they went to the hospital to obtain a statement from Sandoval-Pliego.
Sandoval-Pliego told police that Koubek used to go to church to pray but that he had not seen Koubek for several months. He said he and Koubek had a polite conversation and that Koubek attacked him unprovoked.
Hospital staff said that Sandoval-Pliego suffered around four to six stab wounds to his back and shoulder area and that without medical intervention, Sandoval-Pliego could have died from his injuries.
The other side:
Police interviewed Koubek, who told them that he had been going to Sandoval-Pliego's church since 2018.
Koubek told police he would go to confession occasionally and that he believed Sandoval-Pliego "would snicker" after he gave confession.
When he saw Sandoval-Pliego at dinner, Koubek said it upset him as "he is still holding a grudge" against Sandoval-Pliego.
Koubek admitted to stabbing Sandoval-Pliego with a knife from the restaurant's kitchen and that he paced back-and-forth for about 10 to 15 minutes before the assault.
When asked what his intention was, police say Koubek said, "in the moment, to kill him."
What's next:
Bail for Koubek was set at $18,000 and Koubek was ordered to have no contact with Sandoval-Pliego and to stay away from the restaurant and the church.
The Source: Information from City of Austin Municipal Court documents.